Search - Pierre Henry :: Mix Pierre Henry 01.2

Apocalypse of John set to voice & electronics

Mr. M. J. Berridge | South Africa | 03/08/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a kind of oratorio, set for a voice narrator (in French), music concrete, and electronics. It was created in about 1970, and so pre-dates the era of computor wizzardry. I own a set of LP records purchased at this time. The narrated readings are from the last book of the New Testament - the prophesies of the apostle John who was imprisoned on the island of Platmos because of his Christian leanings. The readings all depict the end of the world and the final days of judgment, reward, and punishment. This makes an extremely dramatic storey. Pierre Henry has endeavoured to create a suitable background to these readings, with intermittent sections of "music" interludes, using sound imagery to describe the incredible events prophesied. The effect is very impressive. Henry's use of sound effects and electronics displays his extraordinary imagination and ingeneous manipulation of the most novel ideas. We visit the depths of hell itself, hearing the screams and gnashing of teeth; the destruction of the mountains and the valleys; the scorching of the earth by the angels of wrath; the four horses of the apocalyse riding out to deliver their pestilences; the angels playing their harps; the great whore of Babylon. This is enough to terify the wits out of any believer! But it is strictly for the connoisseur of the "Musique Concrete" oeuvre. It is probably one of the most vividly descriptive works to come from Henry's studio. It is most impressive when heard in it's entirity as a formal concert, at a high volume, and with the written English translation of the selected text to follow the French narration.

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